Plastic and metal headed pin



Sept. 23, 1952 G. s. LVIGHT 2,611,168

PLASTIC AND METAL HEADED PIN Filed April 30, 1949 a Z A\ A) K 7 INVENTOR 65am: 6. Ila/ r TORN Ys Patented Sept. 23, 1952 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLASTIC AND METAL HEADED PIN George S. Light, Winsted, Conn. Application April 30, 1949, Serial No. 90.695

This invention relates to animpro'ved head structure for a straight shank pin.

Heads of pins of this character have heretofore usually been made by shaping themetalat. the end of the shank opposite the point or by molding or otherwise applying a glassor plastic head on that end of the shanle, In some cases the shank end is bent or otherwise deformed to provide an anchor within the body of glass ,or plastic from which the head is formed.

However formed, the head of the pin has two primary functions, namely to hold the pin in position and to facilitate the manipulation of the pin in inserting and withdrawing it from its functioning position. A pin head, consistent with fulfilling these primary necessities, is also desirably made to give the pin-additional features, such for example as anattractive appearance.

From the point of view of the first of these primary functions, namely that of maintaining the pin in position, the size of the head is important relative to the material in which it is used. For example a larger head is needed when thepin is to be used in loosely or coarsely woven cloth than is needed in the case of finely; woven materials or homogeneous materials such as paper or felted materials. In either case security is an important functional factor. H v

From the point'of view of the second mentioned primary function, namely that of manipulation. the size and shape of thehead is important in that it provides a means by which the head may be easily grasped and held between the-fingers,

and further that the necessary force may be applied to insert or withdraw the pin without discomfort or danger to the fingers of the user.

General purpose utility pins have hitherto been subject to the objection that they become concealed in use, cannot be easily found-and therefore remain in undesirable positions'where accidents may occur. For this reason many devices looking to the elimination of pins as securing means have been proposed. To overcome, these objections, and provide satisfactory safety in the article or product'which is pinned as well as providing safety and convenience to the userjof the pin, a pin having. a head whichjmeets the primary functions mentioned, must in addition be easily found. V I

One object of my inventionyis to provide a pin head construction which meets all of the abovementloned needs in a superior degree as compared with present constructions. A further object is to provide a combination which makes possible-such a compromise between those needs that a; pin may be made which meets a wider range of 7 Claims. (01. 24-150) available.

,2 special purposes,in other words a general purpose pin of distinctive ornamental appearance having a substantiallygreater range of utilities than is afforded by. constructions heretofore Additional objects and advantages residing in the details of construction andmethod of making the pins will be pointed out in the following specification and claims.

In general I achieve the above, and other objects, by a novel combination of metal and a plastic material, and the manner in which they are combined.

In the accompanying, drawing,

Fig. "1 is an elevational view on a greatly enlarged scale showing a pin embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on line -22 of Fig. 1;

I Fig. 3 is a sectional view substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to Fig. l'but showing a modified form of head;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View showing one method of carrying out'the invention.

Referring to the drawings, I indicates the shank of a pin which is provided-with a metal head 2. The head 2 which is preferably formed integral with the'shank has a diameter equal to the minimum safe functional diameter for a pin of the type beingmader That is, the shank I and the head 2 are so proportioned that they comprise a pin in themselves of proper proportions for the intended purposeas far as the ability of the pinto maintain its position in use is concerned.

Surrounding the metal head 2 is a body of plastic material generally indicated at -3 which is and the edge perimeter 8 of the head'is even more thinly covered as indicated 1 at 9.", The

coating at 9 is so thin .as to -be" transparent even'when'pigmented' plastics are used, and so thin as not to substantially or noticeably in- 3 crease the transverse diameter of the head. The vertical thickness of the plastic portion of the head 4 materially increases the longitudinal dimension of the head and provides a substantial increase in the facility and comfort with which the head may be manipulated.

The plastic, furthermore, gives an ornamental appearance to the pin which ornamental appearance is enhanced in a novel manner by the edge 8 of the metal head which is visible through the extremely thin coating 9 and gives the effect of a metal band encircling what otherwise has the appearance of a solid plastic head. The longitudinal manipulative diameter of the head may be varied by varying 'the vertical thickness of the portion 4 as shown in Fig. 4 where the vertical thickness of the plastic portion 4 has been materially reduced Without however changing the transverse diameter of the head and the safety with which the pin may be used from the point of view of maintaining its position in use.

It will be apparent from theabove description that my construction provides a pin head which is a combination of metal and plastic, in which the metal element determines the functional transverse diameter while the plastic portion of the head in addition to providing an ornamental appearance is used to increase the manipulative property at the head if desired. When the pin is in use, if, for any reason, the plastic portion becomes broken or in any manner detached from the metal portion the latter provides a head which is adequate for at least all minimum functional purposes and the security of the pin in operative position is in no way decreased.

Furthermore, pins having heads of the construction described are easily found or located in the fabric which is being held in place by the pin. This advantage is at a maximum when the color of the plastic portion of the head contrasts sharply with that of the pinned material. However, even when the plastic portion and the pinned material are the same, or approximately the same, in color, the bright metallic edge of the metal portion shining through the plastic renders the pin easily located. since the plastic tends to hold the metal portion away from the surrounding fabric. 1 i

The plastic portion of the head is efficiently and advantageously applied by the method diagrammatically shown in Fig; in which the metal pin with the head 2 inverted is immersed by a straight vertical movement as indicated at A and B in a bath of plastic in a fluid condition. The pin is then drawn vertically from the plastic material as indicated at C, the plastic material flowing along the underside of the metal head and over its perimeter to form the plastic member of the head as indicated at D.

As will be apparent, by this method the general shape of the plastic portion of the head is controlled by the shape and contour of the metal head 2. As thepin is drawn from the bath the shank side of the metal head forms a shelf on which a quantity of the plastic composition is withdrawn with the pin. The major portion of this mass of plastic immediately'fiows over the edge of the head under the action of gravity to form a depending globule of plastic. No rotation of the pin shaft is necessary to shape the head. The amount of. plastic depending from the head is controlled by the surface tension, viscosity and adhesive properties of the plastic-material used and the size and shape of the shelf provided by the underside of the head. The depth to which the head is immersed and the speed with which it is withdrawn are further factors in controlling the amount of plastic removed from the bath to form the plastic portion of the head. Preferably the amount of plastic withdrawn is suificient to provide an axial elongation ofthe plastic portion to provide the increased gripping surface for the easy manipulation of the pin previously mentioned. However, the amount can be controlled if desired to form an approximately spherical head and this may be preferable where the pin is provided with a metal head portion of relatively large transverse diameter. In any event, however, the viscosity of the material is such that it acts as a fluid, rather than a paste, with sufficient ease of how so that the transverse diameter of the finished head will be only slightly larger than the transverse diameter of the metal portion of the head and the plastic material covering the edge or rim of the metal portion of the head will be sufliciently thin to permit the metal to shine through.

As is apparent the major portion of the plastic is on the side of the head opposite the shank, even when the finished head is substantially spherical. The axial dimension of the finished head is determined by the plastic element while the transverse dimension is determined by the transverse diameter of the metal element. The size of the head from the standpoint of' visibility, and ease of manipulation is therefore increased by the plastic without substantially increasing the actual transverse dimension of the head beyond that of the metal element. The coating over the rim or edge of the metal member while sufliciently thin to permit the metal to be visible therethrough is sufficient to provide a smooth continuous surface to the head and with the adjacent body of plastic at either side to prevent snaggin or cutting of the fabric in which the pin is used if the pin head is unduly pressed against the fabric.

Any suitable plastic may be used as, for example, one of the phenolic base casting compounds. The essential properties of the plastic compounds used are an ability to provide the desired qualities of color and appearance, controllable viscosity and the property of setting or hardening to a degree to maintain their shape under normal temperatures and conditions of use.

What I claim is:

1. A general purpose pin having a head which comprises a substantially flat metal portion integral with and positioned at right angles to 'the shank of the pin and having a diameter at least equal to the minimum operable transverse diameter of the head as a whole, and a plastic portiomenclosing the metal portion, the plastic portion being positioned on opposite sides of the metal portion and only thinly but uniformly covering the periphery of the metal portion to provide continuity of the surface of the plastic portion without substantially increasing the operational diameter of the head beyond that provided by the metal portion and render the latter visible throughthe plastic as a metallic band encircling the head, the major portion of the plastic being on the side of the metal portion opposite the shank and providing the desired manipulative longitudinal'dimensi on of the head.

2. The method of making a general purpose pin which comprises forming ametal pin having a substantially flat head-integral with and in a plane at right angles to the shank of the pin, immersing said metal head-in a bath of plastic material, withdrawing the head from the plastic, the viscosity, surface tension and adhesive properties of the plastic being adjusted so that a quantity of plastic is thereby removed from the bath upon the shank side of the head, and permitting the plastic to flow around the periphery of the head and take its shape therefrom as the metal head and mass of plastic carried thereby is separated from the bath, the major portion of the plastic being positioned by gravity on the free side of the metal head.

3. A general purpose pin having a head which comp-rises a substantially flat metal portion integral with and positioned at right angles to the shank of the pin and having a diameter sufficient to provide the operational dimension of the head and a plastic portion enclosing the metal portion, the plastic portion being positioned on opposite sides of the metal portion and thinly but uniformly covering the periphery of the metal portion to provide continuity of the surface of the plastic portion, without substantially increasing the operational diameter of the head as a whole, the major portion of the plastic being on the side of the metal portion opposite the shank and providing the desired manipulative longitudinal dimension of the head.

4. The method of making a general purpose pin as defined in claim 3 which comprises forming a metal pin having a substantially flat head integral with and in a plane at right angles to the shank of the pin, immersing the said metal head in a bath of plastic material, withdrawin the head from the bath to thereby remove a quantity of the material from the bath upon the shank side of the head and permitting the thus removed plastic material to flow around the periphery of the head under the action of gravity, the viscosity, surface tension and adhesive properties of the plastic being adjusted to provide the desired head forming flow of the plastic material.

5. A general purpose pin having a substantially flat metal head integral with and positioned at right angles to the shank of the pin and of transverse operational dimension, and a thermoset plastic portion having parts positioned on opposite sides of the flat metal portion, the major part of the plastic being on the side of the metal head portion opposite the shank, said plastic parts being integrally united by a thin uniform film of plastic over the periphery of the metal head to enclose the latter and provide continuity of the surface of the plastic portion without substantially increasing the transverse operational dimension of the head, said plastic portion imparting a manipulative longitudinal dimension to the head.

6. A general purpose pin having a substantially flat metal head integral with and positioned at right angles to the shank of the pin and of transverse operational dimensions, and a thermo-set plastic portion enclosing the metal head, the plastic portion being positioned on opposite sides of the head with the major part thereof on the side of the head opposite the shank and covering the periphery of the head to a depth only sufiicient to provide continuity of the surface of the plastic portion Without substantially increasing the transverse operational dimensions of the head and resulting from the flow of plastic material from the shank side of the head to the opposite side of the head under gravity when the plastic is in fluid condition, said plastic portions imparting a manipulative longitudinal dimension to the head.

7. The method of imparting a longitudinal manipulative dimension to the head of a general purpose pin having a substantially flat metal head integral with the shank of the pin and of operational diameter which comprises immersing the metal head in a bath of thermo-setting plastic material, withdrawing the head from the bath to thereby remove a quantity of material from the bath upon the shank side of the head and permitting the thus removed plastic material to flow around the periphery of the head under the action of gravity, the surface tension, viscosity and adhesive properties of the plastic being adjusted to position the major portion of the plastic on the side of the head opposite the shank when the flow ceases, due to the setting of the plastic, with the periphery of the head covered by a film of plastic providing continuity of the plastic from one side of the head to the other without substantially increasing the operational diameter of the head.

GEORGE S. LIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 15,111 Howe et al June 10, 1856 729,770 Jenkins June 2, 1903 757,096 Dancyger April 12, 1904 1,027,651 Heavenrich May 28, 1912 1,165,680 Knauf Dec. 28, 1915 2,266,432 Morin et a1. Dec. 16, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,306 Great Britain of 1904 

